Arsenal v Chelsea: Will Wenger be 10th time lucky?

Arsenal host Chelsea tonight aiming to regain top spot in the Premier League, but to do so Arsene Wenger will have to do something he has never been able to before.

That is, the Frenchman will need to successfully set up his side at Emirates Stadium to defeat his counterpart Jose Mourinho at the tenth time of asking.

Nine times Wenger has been pitted against the Portuguese and nine times he has been unable to mastermind a victory, losing five and drawing four.

Chelsea will be confident ahead fo the clash with such a record, as well as the fact they have already been to the Gunners and won this season, a 2-0 Capital One Cup triumph. The Stamford Bridge club know a win will take them to second in the Premier League on goal difference.

Arsenal will be desperate to make a statement to their Premier League rivals by pulling off a win against one of the teams considered to be the biggest obstacles between them and a surprise title win.

Defeats to Manchester United and Manchester City have left many doubting whether Wenger's men can go the distance, despite a comprehensive 2-0 victory over the free-scoring Liverpool.

It could well be tenth time lucky for the north Londoners, however, as there is probably never been a better time to play a Mourinho side. Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich wants his teams to play a more expansive style and Mourinho recently bemoaned that it is making them more vulnerable.

Arsenal have been impressive at home this season apart from the opening day disaster against Aston Villa and an unfortunate defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.

Emirates Stadium is set to get very wet and windy on a stormy evening in London and it will be a dramatic setting for a match that could prove to be highly significant for the title race.

GMS looked at the previous nine meetings between Wenger and Mourinho:

Arsenal 2-2 Chelsea, 12/12/04, Premier League

Arsenal were defending champions at Highbury and couldn't shake Mourinho's Blues off - Eidur Gudjohnsen and John Terry cancelled out a Thierry Henry brace.

Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal, 20/04/05, Premier League

Mourinho's bold prediction about his side winning the title was close to being fulfilled as Chelsea saw out this stalemate.

Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea, 07/08/05, Community Shield

The Gunners' nemesis, Didier Drogba, did the damage here and his brace was enough to triumph in the traditional season opener.

Chelsea 1-0 Arsenal, 21/08/05, Premier League

Yep, Drogba again. It was an early triumph in Chelsea's title defence, which would ultimately be successful.

Arsenal 0-2 Chelsea, 18/12/05, Premier League

Chelsea stretched their advantage over Arsenal to 20 points with goals from Arjen Robben and Joe Cole to inflict the Gunners' third successive league loss for the first time in over 10 years.

Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal, 10/12/06, Premier League

This match was memorable for the absolute top-corner belter from Michael Essien in injury time. Arsenal were moments away from breaking Wneger's Mourinho curse, though it would have been something of a smash and grab after Mathieu Flamini's opener.

Chelsea 2-1 Arsenal, 25/02/07, League Cup

The final at the Millennium Stadium became infamous for Terry being knocked out by the boot of Abou Diaby and three players getting sent off, as well as a mass brawl. Theo Walcott had curled in a delightful opener for the Gunners before, yep, you guessed it, a Drogba double secured the trophy for Mourinho

Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea, 06/05/07, Premier League

Drogba missed this match through an ankle injury and the Blues went down to ten men in the first half after Khalid Boulahrouz was sent off. Mourinho's men made a spirited fight back to level, but they couldn't find the win and Manchester United won the title.

Arsenal 0-2 Chelsea, 29/10/13, League Cup

Spells at Inter Milan and Real Madrid meant that Wenger and Mourinho were separated for a few years, but normal service was resumed as a Carl Jenkinson mistake allowed Cesar Azpilicueta in and Juan Mata's strike from the edge of the box dumped the Gunners out.

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